Train-pipe connection.



PATENTED DEG. 5, 1605.

- No.aos',134. J. HT GREEN.

' TRAIN PIPE CONN-ECTION.

,APPLICATIQN FILED 00T. 12. 1904.

Jbl.

, '."fL/ li n E WTA/55557 Y l A Y f 2' f a UNITED STATES i PATENT oEEIoE.,

JORDAN H. GREEN, OF JACKSON, MIOHGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL P. SAGENDORPH,

OE JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

TRAIN-PlPE ooNNEoT'I'oN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

Application nea october 12.1904. serial No. 228,143.

To all rah/om t may concern/.f

' ing systems of railway-cars' for coupling the air, steam, or water supply pipes of the engine with those of the train or for coupling the pipes of adjacent cars. This is usually done by fiexible tubing, which, especially that made of india-rubber, on account of its tendency th rough constant pu mping,handling, and freezing to crack and its liability to puncture, rapidly deteriorates and in time becomes unsafe, so. that in the brake system especially the air-brakes are ever liable to failure, which is a frequent cause of accident. Flexible metallicconnections have hitherto been devised; but so far as I am aware they have not come into use by reason of impracticable arrangements of pipe-sections and unsatisfactory constructions of the joints. l

The main object of this invention is to furnish an efficient andpracticable metallic exible connection, perfectly compensatingfor the lateral motion, tensile strain, and slack due to variations in the travel of the cars and form-V ing a durable, effectively-sealed connection, so that the whole line of supply-pipe running from the engine and throughout the train shall lloe of metal, thus minimizing liability to accident in operating the air-brakes.

-Other objects are to arrange the intermediate pipe-sections in the same plane, to preserve a. continuous uninterrupted conduit through thepiping, to avoidinternal fasten- Ings at the joints, which would reduce the space, be subject to the deteriorating influences of the iiuid medium, and also subject to the general objection of inconvenience, and to vprovide'an effective, practicable, and conveniently-manipulative joint.

A preferred manner of construction and application of my device is substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of. th1s speclcation, and wh`ere1n Flgure l represents a side elevation of a complete pipe connection. as interposed between the engine and train or between two cars, the four oscillating pipe-sections herein l shown being an appropriate number to carry out my invention in 'coupling two cars for effective operation, although, as will be readily understood, my invention being adapted to various uses the number of sections and joints may "be varied at will. plan of the same. tail View of one pipe-section, showing its pivotal joint to another pipe-section in longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line m of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of Fig. 2 represents a Fig. 3 is an enlarged dethe two members of a pipe-joint whenv separated.

` l and 6 designate the adjacent terminals of two train-pipes, which are connected by a set of pipe-sections 2 3 4 5, of which the end sections 2 and 5 oscillate horizontally, while the intermediate sections 3 and 4l oscillate vertically, thus making the adjustment universal.

7 7 denote the joints or couplings between pipes l 2 and 5 6, which may be joints of my present improved construction or may be any approved couplings already in use adapted to allow free' swinging or oscillation ofthe pipesections 2 and 5 in horizontally-disposed planes or at right angles to the plane of oscillation of the intermediate pipe-sections, which are coupled by the joints 8 8 8.

All the joints or couplings are herein represented of like construction, so that 'a description of one willfsufice, reference being had particularly to Figs. 3, 4:, and 5. The contiguous ends, of adjacent pipe-sections are formed with turns, elbow-bends, or offsets seated together, as at 9, so as to provide a fluid-tight pivotal or swivel joint, in which a packing-ring or gasket 10 may ad vantageously be fitted to insure perfect contact by its elasticity and secure perfect sealing of the joint. One of said pipe-sections has preferably Va short quarter-turn 11 and the vother a double turn or return-bend 12 pivotally-seated together, as aforesaid, thus maintaining the conduit through the pipe-sections'in a continuous line except at the joint and allowing relative` oscillation of the pipe-sections in the same plane. The said contiguous ends of the pipesections have projecting therefrom wings or ledges, one pipe having preferably two of such wings 13 and the other an intervening wing .14, all parallel with the seat 9, and

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through these wings is inserted a screw-bolt 15, coaxial with the pivotal joint or seat 9, said screwbolt being tapped or threaded through the intermediate wing 14 and having an easy sliding tit through holes in the two wings 13. This screw-bolt bears pivotally upon the pipe-section having the wings 13 coaxially with the seat 9, and thus compresses and confines the joint, as shown, the pressure lbeing given by turning it in ther threaded wing Hof the other member in an obvious manner. Constant and reliable pressure of the screw-bolt may be maintained by means of a lock-nut 16, tapped on the threaded part of the bolt against the wing 13. Thus while a perfectly-sealed joint is obtained free swinging movement or oscillation between the two pipe-sections is permitted, since-the wings 13 haveonly a loose it on the screw-bolt. A washer 17 may be introduced between the outermost wing 13 and the head of the screwbolt 15. When the several pipe-sections are thus secured together, the lateral motion ofthe cars is compensated for by the end members 2 and 5, which oscillate in ahorizontal plane, and the vertical motion by the other members, which oscillate in a vertical plane, while the tensile strain, take-up, and slack due to going around curves or other variations in movements of the cars are compensated for by the two or more intermediate pipe-sections, the whole having always suficient slack so that the connection cannot be drawn out into a straight line.

It will be observed that the construction describedl avoids internal fastenings at the pipe-joints and provides a very simple, effective, practicable, and conveniently-manipulative connection external to the pivotal seat between the pipe-sections. The usual bulbous enlargements at the joints for accommodating the fastenings are obviated, and the fastenings are not disposed to the action of the medium flowing through the pipes. The conduit runs in a continuous line through the piping except at the joints, where the conduit runs in U-shaped bend.

My invention is of course applicable to any apparatus where a flexible metallic pipe connection is desired and is susceptible of variations in form and specic details of construction.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A iiexilole metallic train-pipe connection comprising a plurality ot' jointed pipe-seetions, the contiguous ends of adjacent pipesections having bends seated together to form a uid-tight pivotal joint, and said sections having overlappingwings through which a screw-bolt is inserted coaxially with said joint and tapped through the wing of one section and loosely inserted through the wing or wings of the other and bearing pivotall y against said other section, substantially as described.

2. A exible metallic train-pipe connection having, in combination, a plurality of jointed pipe-sections, contiguous ends of adjacent sections having one a quarter-turn and the other a return-bend seated together to form aliuidtight pivotal joint, and said sections having overlapping wings through which a screw-bolt is inserted coaxially with said joint, said screwholt being loose in the wing ot' one section and having its point pivotally bearing against said section and having its threaded part tapped through the wing of the other section, substantially as described.

3. A metallic train-pipe connection comprising, in combination, a plurality of jointed pipe-sections, the terminal joints ot' which allow oscillation about vertical axes, while the intermediate joints allow oscillation about horizontal axes, each joint swiveled and turning on a pivot-pin concentric with and perpendicular to the plane of connection and supported and held by intertitting ledges or wings on the pipe-section, substantiallj7 as described.

4. A exible metallic train-pipe connection consisting of a series of jointed pipe-sections, adjacent sections having curved corresponding ends pivotally seated, forming a U-shaped internal passage, said ends being held in contact by a set-screw passing through projecting wings or ledges on the pipe-sections, opposite said pivotal seat, a wing of one member being threaded and adapted to engage said set-screw which bears on the second member concentricall y with and peri'iendicularly to the plane of connection,substantially as described.

5. A flexible metallic train-pipe connection comprising a plurality of jointed pipe-sections whose contiguous ends are seated together to form a pivotal joint, allowing relative oscillation or flexnre otl the pipe-sections, and means external to the piping holding said ends to their pivotal seat, said means comprising overlapping wings or ledges projecting from said sections, and a screw inserted loosely through the outer wing on one section and tapped through the inner wing on the other section and bearing pivotally against the latter seetion coaxially with said joint.

In testimony whereof l aix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

JORDAN H. GREEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN \VHITNEY, 1V. K. SAGENDoRri-L IOC IIO 

